Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 152: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

@® “py: 146 ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. through its entire length, he had jumped ‘““Have you—er—lost her?” she asked. from the train and decided to remain in “Yes! Do you know where she is?”’ Braydon while his grip and trunks went on “Why do you ask me that question?” ahead. ‘“ Because I thought possibly you might _ Where, then, was Mary? For amoment know,” said William. “I want to know he considered interviewing Dora Pitt; but myself.” | he discarded that notion with a shudder. His tone was sharp and irritating. Miss Dora, deacon’s daughter though she might Hayes, upon whose cheeks two bright spots be, very evidently was hand in glove with burned, raised her eyebrows and smiled that unholy Tom Henning—Sally Neble unpleasantly. combination. Where were other friends of “It’s just possible that you do not!” she Mary’s who might know of her where-_ corrected. | abouts? “What on earth do you mean by that? The band across the street blared out. Has anything happened to Mary?” William started. Most of them, at a guess, ‘Not the way you mean, at any rate,” were right over there. The Burch girls, Miss Hayes smiled. Rida Carson, Dolly Hayes—yes, Dolly William Emerson gripped her hand with ought to know about Mary. fingers that were distinctly cold. Although he possessed neither costume “ I don’t know what the mystery is, but nor proper spirit, William marched straight let's cut it out!” he said quickly. “é Where across the street, straight into the Thorn- is Mary?” dyke mansion, and looked about for Dolly He waited. Miss Hayes’s smile grew Hayes. more unpleasant. Some seconds she gazed People hailed him hilariously, here and past the hangings to the gay scene beyond. there; he paid scant attention; he was a Then, with a quizzical, whimsical glance at person of one idea, and at present he William, she spoke suddenly: sought Dolly—but Dolly was not imme- “T’m not quite certain,” she said, “ but diately visible. William hunted on, dog- I’d wager anything within reason, Will, gedly. that your dear little wife at this moment is William, in a matter of ‘five more min- rolling her eyes at the sweet creature to utes, located a Dresden China maiden whom I was engaged when I came to this- whose frantic flirtation with a certain Gon- _ ball. dolier had progressed to such a stage that, “Qh, don’t flush like that and look as behind the hangings of their curtained cor- if you meant to eat me. It’s so!” ner, her mask dangled from her fingers, “IT don’t believe it!” that her magnificent eyes might flash the “* Well, if it wasn’t. Mary, it was Mary’s more effectively. twin,’ Miss Hayes said serenely. ‘‘ Her William shuddered again. This was_ hair was all twisted up, but it was Mary’s Henning’s fiancée, to be sure, and—why, hair. And her shoes were altogether too the whole town was rotten} The gondolier big, because they had Mary’s feet in them. was just rising; William, without the And if the dress she wore wasn’t one of slightest formality, dropped into the seat he that weird collection of party gowns that vacated, with a brief: Mary’s great-grandmother left behind, I'll “Tl have to ask your indulgence for eat it!’? Miss Hayes concluded with a sud- five minutes, mister. I have to consult den, vicious little hiss. ‘“ You find Mr. Miss Hayes on a matter of importance. Henning and you'll find your wife! Thanks; good-by!” There!” ‘“ Why, Will!” Miss Hayes cried, some- In the light of certain data of his own what breathlessly. recent collecting, it was difficult for Wil- “Wait till he’s out of hearing, Dolly,” liam to speak calmly as one should speak William muttered, and waited. “Ah! to a la@y. Yet Dolly. Hayes dared sug- He’s all right now. Dolly, where’s Mary?” gest what he himself had previously sus- Dolly started violently. | pected, and— - GONMGIOOKSHEON|